previous letter

USAGE SUMMARY

"previous letter" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a letter that has been previously sent or received. For example: Please refer to the information in my previous letter for further instructions.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Reply to previous letter N.B.

Cornell University

Copy of reply to previous letter.

Cornell University

In a previous letter, I promised you my next rascasse.

The New Yorker

She berated him for not replying properly to her previous letter.

The Guardian - Film

My previous letter, he says, continued an "unacceptable tenor and dead-end focus".

The New Yorker

Discusses a previous letter from Haiti in detail pointing out incorrect and misleading statements.

The New Yorker

He sent them to Einstein at the same time as his previous letter (see Doc. 93).

Princeton University

Mr. Merritt addresses a grievance brought up in a previous letter from Mr. Porter.

Cornell University

Cover title title letters are in different colors each letter is printed inside the previous letter.

Yale University

In a sharp break with previous letter exchanges, both presidents have publicly lauded their correspondence.

The New York Times

The F.D.A. itself, in a previous letter to LabCorp, said the test "may harm the public health".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider using "prior letter" or "aforementioned letter" as alternatives to "previous letter" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "previous letter" without sufficient context, as this can lead to confusion. Always provide enough information to uniquely identify the letter, such as a date or subject line.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous letter" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "previous" modifies the noun "letter". It serves to specifically identify a particular letter from among potentially multiple communications. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts to reference earlier correspondence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "previous letter" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for referencing earlier correspondence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. While alternatives like "prior letter" or "earlier letter" exist, the original phrase remains a clear and effective choice. Be sure to provide sufficient context when using it to avoid ambiguity. It is commonly found in News & Media and Academia and the register is generally neutral.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior letter

Replaces "previous" with "prior", a synonym indicating something that came before.

earlier letter

Uses "earlier" instead of "previous" to denote a letter from an earlier time.

the preceding letter

Uses "preceding" as a synonym for "previous", indicating the letter that came immediately before.

aforementioned letter

Employs a more formal term, "aforementioned", to refer back to the letter.

letter mentioned earlier

Rearranges the phrase to emphasize the act of mentioning the letter at an earlier point.

letter I sent before

Uses a more conversational tone to describe the prior communication.

my last letter

Refers to the letter as the speaker's most recent prior communication.

letter from before

A simpler, more informal way to indicate the letter was sent or received earlier.

the letter in question

Indicates a specific letter that has already been discussed or referred to.

that earlier communication

Rephrases as a more general reference to a prior instance of communication.

FAQs

How to use "previous letter" in a sentence?

You can use "previous letter" to refer to a letter you've already mentioned or sent. For example: "As I mentioned in my "previous letter", the deadline has been extended."

What can I say instead of "previous letter"?

You can use alternatives like "prior letter", "earlier letter", or "aforementioned letter" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "previous letter" or "prior letter"?

Both "previous letter" and "prior letter" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably in most contexts. "Prior" is often perceived as slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "previous letter" and "the letter before"?

"Previous letter" is a more concise and standard way to refer to an earlier communication. "The letter before" is less formal and might be used to emphasize the sequence of letters.